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A year after voting to consolidate four acting categories into two, the Academy changes its mind because of increased production

The TV Academy reversed a decision on Thursday that had consolidated the acting categories for movies and miniseries at this year's Emmys.

The original decision, which was announced last year, would have reduced the four miniseries and movie acting categories to two, Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, effective with this year's Emmys. But the ATAS Board of Governors voted on Thursday night to retain separate lead and supporting actor and actress categories for this year’s show, before the consolidation ever had a chance to take effect.

Presumably, that’s good news for supporting performers in movies and minis, because they won't have to compete head-to-head with stars who have bigger and flashier roles.

A statement from the Television Academy said the change was made because “in the ensuing year, longform production has increased.”

The Academy has a so-called “Rule of 14,” which allows categories to be created if they would have at least 14 eligible entries, or eliminated if the number of entrants falls below 14.

Barring a subsequent reduction in categories, the move pushes the total number of Emmy categories over 100, to 101.

The board of governors statement:

In March, 2012, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Board of Governors voted to consolidate the Outstanding Lead and Supporting categories for both longform (miniseries and movies) actors and actresses, reducing the total number of categories from four to two. In the ensuing year, longform production has increased. Based on the unanticipated resurgence of television miniseries and movies, the Board voted tonight to reverse the consolidation, thereby reinstating the longform lead and supporting categories in the 65th Emmy® Awards competition. This year as last year, there will be separate longform categories for Outstanding Lead and Supporting, Actors and Actresses (four total categories).